Contact

English at Hamline

As Isaac Disraeli famously wrote, “There is an art of reading, as well as an art of thinking, and an art of writing.” The English major at Hamline integrates these three sets of liberal arts and professional skills through courses in literature, cultural theory, and creative as well as professional writing. Class sizes are small, which allows for engaging discussions and close student/faculty collaborations.

Learning to read, interpret, and write a variety of texts, Hamline English majors and minors gain the sophisticated analytical and communication skills essential to a wide range of occupations. At Hamline, you'll have the chance to engage with new texts (both written and cinematic) and apply what you've learned. For instance, Professor & English Department Chair Kristina Deffenbacher and
Associate Provost Mike Reynolds explain why they think The Hunger Games
has become such a cultural phenomenon.

The English major consists of ten courses that offer students
opportunities to pursue their interests in a diverse field. Students may
choose an English major with a concentration in creative writing or
minors in literature, creative writing, professional writing, or
linguistics. A certificate in international journalism is an excellent
fit with a major or minor. English majors interested in teaching at the
secondary level may elect an education minor with a communication arts
and literature concentration.

Students have opportunities to
write for or work on the production of the Oracle, Hamline’s
award-winning student newspaper, or Fulcrum, a literary and arts
journal. Students interested in creative writing can participate in the
Broke, Starving Writers organization or join the Hamline Slam Poetry
Team. The department offers competitive scholarships and writing awards
to its top students at Honors Day each spring. Hamline’s writing
programs have garnered praise and a distinguished reputation, and
students at all levels and in all programs benefit from a strong
community of writers, extensive resources, and on-campus readings,
speakers, and events.

The department’s focus on active and
reflective learning prepares English majors for a variety of careers in a
world of dynamic change and increasing interconnectedness. Faculty
members work individually with students to help them determine their
strengths and interests and connect with a network of alumni and
individuals in relevant fields. Students are encouraged to complete at
least one internship to gain experience, make contacts, and find leads
for jobs after graduation. They conduct collaborative and independent
research, and many present their findings at national conferences.
Hamline English majors have gone on to competitive graduate and
professional programs in English, creative writing, law, cultural
studies, journalism, publishing, and film production.

The faculty of the English department have three goals for students who graduate with a major or minor in English.

Students should be able to read, write, and inquire critically
and imaginatively, understanding both the theoretical and practical
dimensions of reading and writing.

Students should understand the rhetorical, cultural, historical,
and interdisciplinary contexts of the literatures we teach and the
profession we practice.

Students should join the discourse of the field and explore the
nature of the profession, which includes valuing independent and
collaborative learning, blurring and crossing disciplinary lines, and
investigating the relationship between language and culture.

In order to achieve these goals, students pursuing a major or minor
in English take ten classes in four different categories: Introductory
Inquiries, Gateway Courses, Intermediate Courses, and Courses that
Synthesize Theory and Practice.